Man accused of collecting $231,000 in benefits intended for mom

A Conroe man is in hot water with the federal government for allegedly collecting $231,000 in Social Security benefits intended for his mother, who died almost three decades ago, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

According to the indictment, the Social Security Administration began looking for Willie Mae Shaughnesy, Budd’s mother, in 2010 “when her date of birth, as listed on Social Security records, suggested she would have been more than 104 years old.”

Federal investigators secured a death certificate from the State of Texas that confirmed Shaughnesy died in November 1984.

The indictment alleges that between December 1984 and December 2010, SSA paid benefits for Shaughnesy totaling $231,000, according to the indictment announced Thursday.

Federal prosecutors said that Shaughnesy’s Social Security benefits were paid directly into her bank account, which was held jointly with Budd.

Budd allegedly made withdrawals on his deceased mother’s account on a monthly basis, according to the indictment.